You have lots of things in lots of categories that you do every day, but which of those are priorities in your life? Priorities are fluid; they change over time and with the seasons, and expand or decrease with your energy, so you need to keep a close eye on them. Choosing your current set of priorities (with care) will give your day focus, and help you to decide how to best spend your time.
It's been a while since I last examined mine, and the start of summer seems a good time to assess and adjust my list.
Agenda Today:
1. Read "Repacking Your Bags"
2. Discern my current priorities
3. Map out my priorities
4. Act on each priority today (ceremonially)
1. Read "Repacking Your Bags":
I'm studying the book "Repacking your Bags; Lighten your Load for the Good Life" by Richard Leider and David Shapiro, third edition. Chapter 5 is Repacking your Work Bag. This chapter starts "Since our only possession is our life, or rather our living, our most fundamental question is 'How will I do my living?'"
"Living the good life means being a 'practical romantic' ... We have to deal with making a living ... To that extent we have to be practical. But we also have to be romantic. ... We have to be in love with people, places, and purpose."
The authors talk about how our quest for a "true calling" must be renewed throughout our lives, and how our talents are waiting to be discovered and expressed. "This knowledge of what we call doing the right work, together with a strong sense of talents and purpose in life, is an essential part of answering the question, 'How will I do my living?'"
I will admit I skimmed this section, since I'm mostly retired. One takeaway I got that is useful for me: The ideal job is a process - first you get clear about your talents, passions, and values, and then you choose a combination of things to do that satisfy that state of being.
I expect this is a process I will follow for the rest of my life.
One way to discern priorities is to start by brainstorming a list of possible daily actions and ways of being that fit with your energy and responsibilities, then group them into themes, such as family or health.
-What ways of living or "being" are a top priority at this point in my life?
-What are my important and meaningful responsibilities and jobs? (Work, family, committees, etc.)-Where do my strengths lie?-What gives me the biggest reward?-What would I do even if I only had 6 months to live?-Which activities best support my dreams and goals?-What activities best support my values?
If you've already got a list, like I do, you can work it backwards by asking, "Are these still priorities for me now?" Because my ideal summer is open-ended and spontaneous, I wanted to simplify my priority themes a little. I didn't manage to reduce my number of priorities, but grouped them differently, narrowed some and broadened others:
- Life-long learning / Getting My Ducks in a Row
- Creativity (Writing and Art)
- Earth Unity & Garden Care
- Celebration and Play
- Family, Friends, and Sanctuary
3. Map out my priorities:
I've written a lot about setting intentions. I set them each month for my goals because they help me to understand my deepest reasons for doing what I'm doing, and they give me motivation.
I have a process that helps me to prepare for writing intentions that I call mapping.
- Get a largish piece of paper and a pencil.
- Start in the center: Draw a symbol for yourself, or write out ME.
- Add core values and principles around the central shape.
- Next, add in top priorities and show how they connect to each other and values.
I used this base map to examine each of my summer priorities: I followed all the connecting lines to make a list of ideas that link my priorities to my values, and lead me to action.
Life-long learning / Getting my ducks in a row
1. Truth, Light, and discernment
1. Truth, Light, and discernment
2. Inner integrity
Creativity (Writing and Art)
1. Witness: Write and share
1. Witness: Write and share
2. Create community healing with art and writing
Earth Unity & Garden Care:
1. Unity with all creation
3. Grow food, forge a connection to the earth
4. Integrity with my actions, service, and lifestyle
5. Witness: Write and share
Celebration
1. Unity with the cycles of nature
2. Prayer and ceremony
Family, Friends, and Sanctuary:
1. Love, kindness, listening practices2. Spontaneity, wonder, playfulness
3. Community / Unity
4. Creating sanctuary in my home
4. Act on each priority today (ceremonially):
This little chart is central to keeping my ducks in a row. I want to act on each of my priorities pretty much every day, and this is a simple way for me to see how I'm doing.
Learning & Duck Work | Creativity | Earth Unity / Garden | Celebration | Family, Friends, Play, & Sanctuary | Income | |||||||
S | Testament of Devotion | Choose month goals | Write blog | Painting | Business meeting | Plant flowers | Water & zen gardening | Make pie and Birthday meal | Enin | Meeting for Worship | House plants | |
M | Unpacking | Set intentions | Write blog | Toddler art | Earth care mantra | Prune lilac | Pruning | Worship sharing | Aldo care | Enin | Sweep. mop, vacuum | Brushwork lesson |
T | Activism reading | Unpack my writing | Write blog | Toddler art | Plastics minute | Weed native bed | Process herbs | New moon / altar & meditation | Aldo care | Enin | Recycle, garbage | Painting class |
W | Earth Path | Write blog | Toddler art | CRbB meeting | July chart | Bird feeders | Maidyo shahem | Aldo care | Visit Carrie | Bathroom | ||
TH | Unpacking | Write blog | Toddler art | Harvest | Garden tea? | Aldo care | Shed shelves | HK work | ||||
F | Earth path | Write blog | Painting | Sign delivery | Clean up beds | Walk w/ Becky | Date | Papers | Art business | |||
S | Unpacking | Write blog | Painting | Duck coop | Compost | Retreat day | Call, visit Ez | Call Mom | Windows | HK work | ||
Very clear. I like the life chart- a nice distillation. I love the goal of being a practical romantic.
ReplyDeleteThanks, anonymous!
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